Man charged with possessing fake law-enforcement IDs

| Friday, May 13, 2005

Federal prosecutors have charged a New York City resident with trafficking in fake law-enforcement IDs.

Officers have found more than 1,000 fake IDs so far.

The defendant in the case, identified in court papers as Sergio Khorosh, received about 100 of the fake IDs from a supplier in Taiwan, according to a court complaint filed by Michael Levy, assistant U.S. Attorney in New York.

The case was filed after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents intercepted a box labeled “badges” in the mail. The package was addressed to “Pro Products Co.,” but the address was for an apartment in the Bronx.

Inside the box, the agents found what appeared to be 100 U.S. marshals badges. Specifically, prosecutors said that badges were similar to those used by marshals assigned to court security.

According to the court filing, the company that made the badges produces them for the Marshals Service. Law-enforcement officers found an Internet posting in which Khorosh allegedly identified himself as the owner of Pro Products Co., and said he was “looking to buy USA police and federal police badges.”

In the complaint, Robert Williams, an immigration agent, said that after a search of Khorosh’s apartment May 9, agents discovered “approximately 1,000 badges of various federal and state law-enforcement agencies.” Those included the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, DEA, the Air Marshals and New York Police.

Several weapons were found in the apartment as well.

The Associated Press reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Khorosh at his home Monday, May 9.